BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Howard Payne University athletic department today announced the hiring of Bianca Gonzales as the Lady Jackets' new head softball coach.

Bianca Gonzales comes to Howard Payne from Texas College, where she served as the head softball coach in 2024-25 year. Bianca brings over 15 years of experience in softball instruction, athlete development, and recruitment to her new role at HPU.

Since taking over the Texas College softball program in 2024, Coach Gonzales focused on building a competitive and disciplined team culture and excelled in player development, game planning, and performance analysis.

"We are thrilled to welcome Coach Gonzales to the HPU family," said Adam Bright, Director of Athletics at HPU. "Her commitment to holistic development, strong recruiting network, and forward-thinking leadership align perfectly with the values of our athletics department and the mission of Howard Payne University. I'm excited to welcome her to the Home Team of the Heartland."

This summer, Coach Gonzales has been working with USA Softball coaching in the All-American Games for the Texas Region.

In addition to coaching, Gonzales also served as the college's Coordinator of Health and Wellness. In this role, she led campus-wide initiatives promoting mental health, fitness, and nutrition. She collaborated with coaches, health professionals, and campus services to ensure student-athletes were supported in every aspect of their development.

"I am honored to join Howard Payne University as the next leader of the softball program," said Bianca Gonzales. "I look forward to connecting with the team and developing them into champions on the playing field and in the classroom. HPU is a remarkable school with a rich tradition of excellence that I am excited to be a part of. Stingem!"

Prior to joining Texas College, Gonzales served as the head softball and PE coach at Cy-Fair High School, managing team operations, budgets, and athletic training programs.

Her background also includes over a decade of experience as a private softball instructor and recruiter, working with elite athletes from middle school through college.

Bianca holds a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston–Clear Lake and an associate degree from Brazosport College.